Post navigation

ICS- CERT and US-CERT’s Role in protecting Against Cybersecurity Threats

There are fewer threats more urgent and terrifying than cyber attacks aimed at SCADA and HMI systems, as we recently learned in massive DDoS attacks that targeted IoT devices. That’s why this week, we’re exploring the history of ICS-CERT, and US-CERT, an organization responsible for analyzing and reducing cyber threats, vulnerabilities, disseminating cyber threat warning information, and coordinating incident response activities.

US-CERT, or the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, brings advanced network and digital media analysis expertise to bear on malicious activity targeting the networks within the United States and abroad. ICS-CERT, the Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team, works to reduce risks all critical infrastructure sectors by partnering with law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community and coordinating efforts between governments and control systems owners, operators, and vendors. Both arms of the computer emergency readiness team were consolidated under the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center, or NCCIC.

US-CERT and ICS-CERT were created in 2003 by the Department of Homeland Security, and are very active today.

ICS-CERT offers a wealth of information on new cybersecurity threats to industrial control systems, as well as reports of past threats. Their newsletter is a great source of information to keep up-to-date on threats your system may face.